HONOLULU—Innovative missions today demand contextualized ministries shaped by local churches—not one-size-fits-all imported strategies implemented by professionals, a missions professor from Texas and a pastor from South Australia told a focus group at the Baptist World Congress. Mike Stroope, missions professor…
Christianity’s relation to culture a matter of spiritual discernment
HONOLULU—Should Christians ever abandon their cultures for the sake of the gospel? Baptists from all over the planet struggled with what to “embrace” and what to “release” of their cultures during a discussion session held in conjunction with the 20th…
Christians must liberate & be liberated, seminarian tells BWA
HONOLULU — Christians are called to be agents of liberation, but they also desperately need to be liberated themselves, ministry educator Janet Clark stressed at the 20th Baptist World Congress in Honolulu July 30. Jesus focused on liberation in his…
Become ‘jubilee people,’ pastor tells world Baptists
HONOLULU—Christians are called to join Jesus as “jubilee people,” Australian pastor Allan Demond told participants at the 20th Baptist World Congress in Honolulu July 31. “Imagine if there was a place on earth where God’s Spirit breathed righteousness and truth…
Women combat poverty, abuse by walking in the Spirit
HONOLULU — As women from every corner of the world gathered in their native dress with festive country displays in celebration of God’s movement among all peoples during the Baptist World Alliance Women’s Leadership Conference, the sea of colorful garb…
Focus group explores ethics of tourism
HONOLULU — Baptists meeting in one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations were reminded July 29 that beneath the glitz and glitter of the tourism industry lie moral issues that call for a Christian response. Presenters at a breakout…
If Jesus needed the Spirit, then so do Christians today, says U.S. pastor
HONOLULU — Today’s Christians need the Holy Spirit’s guidance, just like Jesus did 2,000 years ago, a U.S. pastor told participants at the Baptist World Congress. Julie Pennington-Russell joined 26 other Bible scholars to teach Scripture lessons in eight languages…
Faithful preachers proclaim God’s message without fear, Jamaican Baptist insists
HONOLULU — Preaching should be dangerous business, because faithful preachers dare to deliver a message from God — regardless of the consequences, Karl Johnson, general secretary of the Jamaica Baptist Union, told the Baptist World Congress. Addressing the 20th Congress…
World Baptists honor Lotz for human rights advocacy
HONOLULU — To be true to their heritage and principles, Baptists must continue the fight for religious liberty for all people, insisted Denton Lotz, who received the Baptist World Alliance’s Human Rights Award July 30 in Honolulu. Lotz, the Alliance’s…
Christians must liberate & be liberated, seminarian tells Baptist World Alliance
HONOLULU — Christians are called to be agents of liberation, but they also desperately need to be liberated themselves, ministry educator Janet Clark stressed at the 20th Baptist World Congress in Honolulu July 30. Jesus focused on liberation in his…
Longtime mission leader Avery Willis dies
BELLA VISTA, Ark. (ABP) — Avery Willis, a former Southern Baptist missionary and administrator best known as developer of the MasterLife discipleship materials used around the world, died July 30, nearly eight months after being diagnosed with a rare form of…
Christians commanded to love their Muslim neighbors, panelists insist
HONOLULU — A West Texas missions professor who served more than two decades in Indonesia and an Arab Baptist educator from Lebanon emphasized the need to reach out in love to Muslims. Robert Sellers, missions professor at Hardin-Simmons University’s Logsdon…